The DDG 51 is an important component of the AEGIS Ballistic Missile Defense
(BMD) System, where it - together with Ticonderoga Class Missile Cruisers (CG 47)
- patrols the oceans to detect and track ballistic missiles of all ranges, including
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). The tracking data is then reported to the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS).

Arleigh Burke Class ships are constructed by General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works (lead yard) and Huntington Ingalls.
The Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer is widely regarded as the most successful surface shipbuilding program since the Second World War.

The DDG 51 is powered by four General Electric
LM2500 marine gas simple-cycle high-performance turbine engines, each delivering 33,600 shp.

At the core of DDG 51 shipboard systems is the Lockheed Martin-developed
AEGIS Combat System, an integrated missile guidance system used on U.S. Navy and allied ships.
The system operates as an integrated single ship system, as well as in ship-to-ship networks.
The key component of the AEGIS Combat System is the Raytheon
AN/SPY-1D(V) multi-function phased array radar, the most advanced and versatile maritime radar in the world.
The role of the radar is to acquire and track targets such as planes and missiles and defend against them.

DDG 51 is an all-steel construction and features four separate variants so-called Flights.
The ships from DDG 51 to 71 represent the original design and are designated as Flight I ships, DDGs 72 to 78 are Flight II ships,
while DDGs 79 to 122 employ the Flight IIA design. The last Flight IIA ship, DDG 122, the future USS Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee
is currently under construction. DDG 123, the first Flight III ship, is expected to be delivered in 2021
and as many as 42 Flight III ships may be purchased.

Construction of Flight IIA ships started with DDG 79 USS Oscar Austin commissioned in August 2000.
The Flight IIA design includes the addition of the Kingfisher mine-avoidance
system; helicopter hangars with space for two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters;
blast-hardened bulkheads; a distributed electrical system; and advanced networked systems.
Additionally, DDGs 91 to 96 provide accommodations for the AN/WLD-1 Remote Mine-Hunting System.
U.S. Navy Flight IIA requirements have involved various modifications to secondary armaments, in that
some ships have a Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) installed and some vessels employ a storage/launch facility
to hold a single minehunting Under Sea Vehicle (USV). Flight III will meet ballistic missile defense and
open ocean anti-submarine warfare (ASW) requirements. The Flight III design will replace
the AEGIS AN/SPY-1D(V) radar with the AN/SPY-6(V) Air and Missile Defense Radar (AMDR) from Raytheon.

The development of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Next-Generation Destroyer caused an interruption in the DDG 51 program, which has since been reinstated
due to the DDG 51's important role in ballistic missile defense, a capability not offered by Zumwalt Class destroyers.

Armament/Ship Self-Defense:

The DDG 51 is equipped with two Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) that together accommodate
a total of 90 Standard Missile (SM-2/SM-6), RUM-139 VL-ASROC, and RGM-109E Tactical Tomahawk missiles.
The DDG 51 also features a 5-inch Mk 45 127mm gun, which provides surface fire support to
forces on land and + an anti-ship gun capability; two Raytheon Mk 15 Phalanx 20mm Close In Weapon Systems (CIWS);
two Mk 32 triple 324mm torpedo tubes with a total of six Mk 46/50/54 torpedoes; four .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine guns;
and two Orbital ATK M242 Bushmaster 25mm chain guns. DDGs 79 and up also feature the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM).

DDG 51 Production Forecast:

A 15-year DDG 51 production forecast is available through Forecast International's Platinum Forecast System,
which includes a breakout of total market unit and value statistics by manufacturer and end-user. This real-time service
also includes information on all prime and subcontractors, contract awards, worldwide ship inventories, a complete program history,
and a rationale detailing the outlook of the program. A 10-year DDG 51 production forecast is also available in report format
through Forecast International's Warships Forecast service.

Warships Forecast:

Forecast International Budget Data:

With Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast,
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long range forecasts, but most important – an expert's rationale for all programs and the overall market.

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